MY 10 FAVORITE ALBUMS: Matt Coate (A Lot Like Birds)

Fortunately for all of their fans, A Lot Like Birds is very close to finishing recording their fourth studio LP.
With such complex music, one has to wonder what kinds of sounds inspire artists like the guys in ALLB.
Among the stress of recording what will probably be the best release in the band’s career, Matt Coate (Bass/Vocals) took the time to give me his picks for top 10 favorite albums.

Manchester Orchestra – HOPE
“HOPE is hands down one of the most beautiful records I have ever heard. I’m almost brought to tears every time I listen to it. I’ve always been a big Manchester fan and I’m really inspired by Andy Hull. If you haven’t heard this album, you absolutely need to make the time to do so.”

Copeland –Ixora
“I was late jumping on the Copeland bandwagon but I really fell in love with the band with their 2008 release “You Are My Sunshine”. When “Ixora” came out, I couldn’t stop listening. It’s such a well rounded and addicting album. I can’t get enough.
Aaron Marsh truly is a genius.”

Death Cab for Cutie – Plans
“I know I know, me and the rest of the planet, right? As cliché as it might sound, this album feels like it’s a part of me and always takes me back to a particular time in my life. Plans has a huge sentimental value to me and was a very inspiring album to me musically. The drums and bass on this album are some of the most iconic parts I’ve heard on an album released in my lifetime.”

Bon Iver- Bon Iver
“This is always my go-to early morning drive album. The instrumentation alone was enough to suck me in. Justin Vernon has such a creative mind and I always look to his compositions when I need to think of ways to do things differently. This album changed the way I listen to a lot of music. There is so much in the small details and I think that Justin has absolutely perfected the art of it.”

From Indian Lakes- Absent Sounds
“I’ve been following these guys for many years now after playing with/meeting them at a show in 2010 and each release has left me more and more amazed. This album especially stood out to me purely for the raw and powerful human element that they captured in each song. We (ALLB) are fortunate enough to be working with the same engineer (Dryw Owens) who produced their first 3 albums.”

Noah Gundersen – Carry the Ghost
“Noah has always been a huge inspiration for my solo work. I’ve enjoyed everything he has released and then this record dropped and utterly destroyed me. I was an emotional wreck for weeks after first indulging in this album. This album is one of the most honest and relatable things I’ve ever heard.”

Third Eye Blind – Third Eye Blind
“I grew up with this album blasting in our home, in my elder siblings cars, and in my ears still to this day. Most people know at least half of this masterpiece from the radio but I have to give this record so much credit for my musical upbringing. It’s so straight forward yet powerful and it’s such a seamless album. I strive to make something as monumental as this in my life. This will always be one of my favorite records.”

Relient K – Forget and Not Slow Down
“A lot of nostalgia comes with RK for me. They have been one of my favorite bands since I was in Jr. High and I’ve seen them live at least 10 times. This album felt as if it was made for me at the time it came out and I clung to it so tightly for months on end. It flows so well and is such a dynamic record. I’ve been hugely inspired by RK’s rich harmonies and catchy hooks and I think I will always carry some of their influence with me in my songwriting.”

Sufjan Stevens – Carrie and Lowell
“I have always respected Sufjan so much but I never fully connected to one of his albums until Carrie and Lowell. This album is hauntingly beautiful and stirs my soul in a way that I really don’t know how to explain. I started listening to it on night drives on tour and I haven’t been able to stop since.”

Dear and The Headlights –Drunk Like Bible Times
“Another band I was late to get in to but this album was always one that really stood out to me. The lyrics are so creative and music is so raw and it sucked me in immediately. It’s such a dynamic record and I can listen to it over and over. It was cool to find out that they are Equal Vision Records alums and be a part of the same family.”

Check out A Lot Like Birds’ most recent LP, No Place, below and stay tuned for more with the band regarding their upcoming album!